Connacht Team Talk Thread V - The Friend Zone

FACECUTTR

Wegians89 wrote: »

In s post match interview last weekend a sale player said that they were playing youth in challenge cup and focusing on the premiership. An opportunity there. France teams historically don’t really care about away games in Europe, plus first team players in each position mentioned above are either injured or should be due a rest. Along with friend already saying fringe players would get an opportunity.

We will see Horwitz and Carey with Ronaldson and McCoy out.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Gallagher is another I’d like to see. From the pictures of training today. Healy, cannon and sob sat out training while there was no sign of marmion or toh.

realhorrorshow

I’d imagine any rotations would involve the first team subs and the Eagles squad will remain largely the same for the last fixture. Given our record in England I would like to see a strong team travel to Sale, if we are indeed targeting this competition. Lose to Bordeaux and we might as well play the kids for the rest of the competition.

Bazzo

Mul, it's over

Ronaldson replaced by Horwitz in the European squad.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

No official squad update again but confirmed that toh, marmion and Farrell won’t play the the weekend. Toh and marmion are only out for weeks rather then months

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

No official squad update again but confirmed that toh, marmion and Farrell won’t play the the weekend. Toh and marmion are only out for weeks rather then months

C.McKeon or Mitchel or Kerrins behind Blade?
Leader or Kelleher for TOH?
DeBuitlear for Healy?
As we'll rest Aki for at least one of the 2 games, Robb, Griffin or Joyce with Godwin?

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Bordeaux-
Buckley delahunt bealham
Dillane roux
Butler Copeland faingaa
Blade carty
Bundee godwin
Kelleher leader niyi
Tom, McCabe, Carey maksymiw,Boyle, Mitchell/ mckeon, Horwitz, de buitlear

Sales-
McCabe Tom Carey
Gallagher roux
Boyle Copland faingaa
Blade Horwitz
Godwin Farrell
Healy leader niyi
Delahunt, Conan, Kenny? , makswyim, Connolly, Mitchell/mckeon, Fitzgerald/Joyce, de buitlear

freyners

The Friend Zone

Imo roux starting both is optimistic. Schmidt has called him up frequently so will likely be rotated out for one game

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

freyners wrote: »

Imo roux starting both is optimistic. Schmidt has called him up frequently so will likely be rotated out for one game

I agreed normally wouldn’t start both, but thornbury is injured and cannon sat out training so could possibly be injured too.

realhorrorshow

freyners wrote: »

Imo roux starting both is optimistic. Schmidt has called him up frequently so will likely be rotated out for one game

O’Mahony has more minutes for Ireland and has started the last 4(?) matches, and I don’t think Munster will be resting him.

connachta

Wegians89 wrote: »

Bordeaux-
Buckley delahunt bealham
Dillane roux
Butler Copeland faingaa
Blade carty
Bundee godwin
Kelleher leader niyi
Tom, McCabe, Carey maksymiw,Boyle, Mitchell/ mckeon, Horwitz, de buitlear

Sales-
McCabe Tom Carey
Gallagher roux
Boyle Copland faingaa
Blade Horwitz
Godwin Farrell
Healy leader niyi
Delahunt, Conan, Kenny? , makswyim, Connolly, Mitchell/mckeon, Fitzgerald/Joyce, de buitlear

Even if UBB sent better team, I'm 100% convinced, we have to rotate a lot this week-end and not the week after. Too much "mix" in your teams, seeing our record in Europe home compared to the one in England

connachta

Bordeaux-
COD delahunt Carey
Gallagher Maksymiw
Connolly Copeland faingaa
Blade Horwitz
Robb Griff
DeBuitlear Leader Kelleher
Tom, McCabe, Bealham ,Claffey, Mitchell/Mckeon, Carty, Healy

Sale
Buckley Tom Bealham
Dillane Roux
Boyle Copeland Masterson (look back in trainning!!)
Marmion Carty
Godwin Farrell
Healy Leader Niyi
Delahunt, McCabe, Carey, Gallagher, Butler, Blade, Aki, de Buitlear

Lebute

connachta wrote: »

Bordeaux-
COD delahunt Carey
Gallagher Maksymiw
Connolly Copeland faingaa
Blade Horwitz
Robb Griff
DeBuitlear Leader Kelleher
Tom, McCabe, Bealham ,Claffey, Mitchell/Mckeon, Carty, Healy

Sale
Buckley Tom Bealham
Dillane Roux
Boyle Copeland Masterson (look back in trainning!!)
Marmion Carty
Godwin Farrell
Healy Leader Niyi
Delahunt, McCabe, Carey, Gallagher, Butler, Blade, Aki, de Buitlear

Conan was tweeting after the last eagles game that it was great to be back on the tight head side I wonder is it where he would rather play and has he more potential there?

KBurke85

The Friend Zone

It could be a case of him covering both sides at the minute especially with McCoy suspended. I'm not sure I'd start him against a french pack especially after his tough time in Edinburgh

connachta

Lebute wrote: »

connachta wrote: »

Bordeaux-
COD delahunt Carey
Gallagher Maksymiw
Connolly Copeland faingaa
Blade Horwitz
Robb Griff
DeBuitlear Leader Kelleher
Tom, McCabe, Bealham ,Claffey, Mitchell/Mckeon, Carty, Healy

Sale
Buckley Tom Bealham
Dillane Roux
Boyle Copeland Masterson (look back in trainning!!)
Marmion Carty
Godwin Farrell
Healy Leader Niyi
Delahunt, McCabe, Carey, Gallagher, Butler, Blade, Aki, de Buitlear

Conan was tweeting after the last eagles game that it was great to be back on the tight head side I wonder is it where he would rather play and has he more potential there?

Was there because McCoy is suspended.
Very worrying tweet if we only have Buck and McCabe as real convinced LH

connachta

BTW anticipation about "issues" in my teams :
Horwitz is the cover for Centre if needed (Bordeaux team)
Godwin is the OH cover if needed (Sale team)

realhorrorshow

Lebute wrote: »

Conan was tweeting after the last eagles game that it was great to be back on the tight head side I wonder is it where he would rather play and has he more potential there?

Not sure where he rathers but I’d say he has more potential as a Thomas Domingo style loosehead, very small compared to top tier tightheads.

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Great interview with Willie Ruane on craggy rugby about the new stadium

Wegians89

Mul, it's over

Wegians89 wrote: »

Great interview with Willie Ruane on craggy rugby about the new stadium

He was on off the ball last night and was very impressive also.

b.gud

2 year extension for Thornbury https://www.connachtrugby.ie/gavin-thornbury-signs-two-year-contract-extension-with-connacht/

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Deleted User wrote: »

He was on off the ball last night and was very impressive also.

Listened to that too, he goes into a bit more detail with craggy. Think he deserves a good bit of credit for everything he’s done over the last few years, new stadium starting to look like it’s coming together, player retention etc

its_phil

Mul, it's over

Haven't heard Craggy interview yet, but Galway Bay FM went into a bit more detail than OTB last night.

https://galwaybayfm.ie/connacht-rugby-ceo-willie-ruane-outlines-development-plans/

connachta

b.gud wrote: »

2 year extension for Thornbury https://www.connachtrugby.ie/gavin-thornbury-signs-two-year-contract-extension-with-connacht/

Still 25, young player committing is a very good sign. 
Roux/Dillane have good years in front of them too
Gallagher/Claffey will step up for Cannon, and we'll be fine in the forseeable future at 2nd row
We need a LH (to really replace Coulson) and a winger (to really replace Reece)
That's where most money/NIQ spots should go...

MarinersBlues

Mul, it's over

42 article on why we should focus on pro14 rather than challenge cup

I am inclined to agree in the short term.

connachta

Every year the same story.
We never ever focus on CC
I strongly disagree.
We won't be 3rd and probably not the best 7th.
It's all in now. Win in Sale next week and we'd be likely through a home SF (if we don't fu*** up like we did in Worcester/ vs Gloucester last season).  FFS

connachta

Every year the same story.
We never ever focus on CC
I strongly disagree.
We won't be 3rd and probably not the best 7th in the league.
It's all in now. Win in Sale next week and we'd be likely through a home SF (if we don't fu*** up like we did in Worcester/ vs Gloucester last season).  FFS

freyners

The Friend Zone

I'd like to see some experimenting rather than a full scale rotation. For example give McKeon/L. Carty time on the field together to start but with experienced heads like Godwin/Aki and Copeland in and outside them to help them settle in better.

Lebute

connachta wrote: »

Every year the same story.
We never ever focus on CC
I strongly disagree.
We won't be 3rd and probably not the best 7th in the league.
It's all in now. Win in Sale next week and we'd be likely through a home SF (if we don't fu*** up like we did in Worcester/ vs Gloucester last season).  FFS

i agree with Connachta - i don't understand not focusing on the Challenge Cup. At the end of the day its about trophy's and medals, we have one trophy to our collection we are not a big enough club to dismiss it, Leinster didn't 5 or 6 years ago they went out and won it. As some one who played sport in the past i look back on medals won in warm up / secondary competitions as much fondness as the main titles( which there are not that many of I may add)
Natural rotation ok but we need to be giving ourselves the best possible chance to win this competition.

connachta

Ok there's Clermont in it. But a final would be enough to qualify to ChampionsCup, even maybe a SF.
And do you imagine Clermont in the Sportsground in April?
Even the new stadium won't be enough :P

Wegians89

The Friend Zone

Looking st the quality of the teams already playerd, how Connacht have preformed and where they are in the conference at this stage there’s a damn good chance of getting top 3